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*Inspiring community connections through community led projects

Receive up to $10,000 for a project in your community or neighbourhood

The heart and essence of Burlington is our neighbourhoods and communities. It's about people and places and how they work in partnership to make great places to live and play.

The Neighbourhood Community Matching Fund has been created to inspire Burlington residents to actively champion small projects in our community to improve, build and strengthen Burlington and enhance the quality of life for everyone. Bringing neighbourhoods and communities together to make new connections and create a sense of belonging is just as important as the project itself.

The funds objectives are defined as follows:

Improve, build and strengthen Burlington neighbourhoods

Create a greater sense of belonging

Foster individual well-being and community pride

Inspire residents to become more actively involved in the community

Build stronger relationships

With the support of the City of Burlington, the Neighbourhood Community Matching Fund allows neighbourhood and community groups to initiate, manage and implement projects that make a difference to the neighbourhood or community group. Approved projects receive up to 50 per cent of the funding for the project from the city. The neighbourhood or community group would match this funding with an equal contribution made up through any combination of volunteer hours, donated service, donated materials and supplies or other funds raised, such as cash donations.

Funding will not support:

Festivals, events or block parties

Staffing Costs. Note: Funds can be used to support funding professional services or professional consultation services when the volunteer group does not have expertise necessary to support the project.

Purchase of equipment unless the community group can demonstrate that equipment is required for the projects continued success.

Existing programs and services are not eligible for funding

Replicate an existing public or private project or fund projects that are already in the planning stages or will be implemented by another public or private group

Up to $10,000

A maximum of $10,000 may be granted to match the equivalent contribution the neighbourhood community group makes up through a combination of any of the following:

Volunteer time

Donated services

Donated materials and supplies

Other funds raised

Approved projects receive up to 50 per cent of the funding for the project from the city. The neighbourhood or community group would match this funding with an equal contribution made up through any combination of volunteer hours, donated service, donated materials and supplies or other funds raised, such as cash donations. Note: The City of Burlington will support funding to pay for any out-of-pocket expenses up to a maximum of $10,000.

Application Timelines

Application Deadline

Notice of Decisions

Agreements Signed

Feb. 28, 2019

May 2019

1 month from award notification

Criteria & Guidelines

The project must meet these criteria:

Open and inclusive to the entire community

Within the City of Burlington

On lands owned or managed by the City of Burlington or on lands that are accessible to public.

Other criteria

Letters of Support

Applicants must also submit a minimum of three letters of support or a pledge sheet from outside the applicant group with signatures and contact information for the proposed project. Letters can be from local community or neighbourhood groups, businesses or residents living in the neighborhood impacted by the project.

Insurance

Applicants must be able to maintain third party liability insurance throughout the project in the amount of not less than $2 million.

Note: if you do not have insurance, you can apply for insurance protection through the city.

Eligible applicants

School Boards or Business groups may apply in partnership with a neighbourhood and community group or student group as a sponsor and the city will liaise with the project lead who must be from the community.

Priority for applications will be provided to new groups or groups that have not received funding within the last five years.

Ineligible applicants

The Neighbourhood Community Matching Fund is not available to:

Individual persons.

Projects that received funds through the city's budget process or any other city grant programs.

Social service agencies.

For profit companies. Note: Businesses can sponsor a project or apply in partnership with a not-for-profit organization.

Organizations outside of City of Burlington.

Government agencies.

Schools and School Boards (Note: may apply in partnership - see above).

Mindfulness in the Park: Organizing Free mindfulness sessions in park settings in Aldershot and Elizabeth Gardens communities. Sessions open to all Burlington residents.

Neurodiverse Universe - Art Mural Project: A neighbourhood art project to bring awareness, acceptance and appreciation to the greater community of the skills and talents of people with autism.

Open Doors - Live Out Loud – Outdoor Play Spaces: Providing fencing to create safe outdoor play spaces (basketball court and play area) for all Burlington residents in the Guelph Line, Woodward and Prospect communities.

Burlington Food Bank Community Garden Expansion: Community garden expansion in Maple Park Community Gardens will provide fresh produce to clients of the Burlington Food Bank.

Walk with a Doc – Hamilton Burlington Trails Association: Walk with a Doc will host 12 community walks on Burlington community trails and in community parks. Walks are led by local doctors and health care providers, including a short health talk at the start of each walk.

Follow Burlington Parks and Recreation for info on how to Live and Play Every Day.

Contacts:

Contact Department

Numbers

Links

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